Semi-Slav Defense: Meran Variation, Sozin Variation
1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Bd3 a6 9. e4 c5 10. e5 cxd4 11. Nxb5 Nxe5
12. Nxe5+0.76
White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.
Analyze this positionIn the Semi-Slav Defense: Meran Variation, Sozin Variation (D49), reached after 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Bd3 a6 9. e4 c5 10. e5 cxd4 11. Nxb5 Nxe5, Stockfish 18 recommends 12. Nxe5 for White. White is slightly better (+0.76).
Top engine moves
- +0.7612. Nxe5 axb5 13. Bxb5+ Bd7 14. Nxd7 Qa5+ 15. Bd2 Qxb5 16. Nxf8 Rxf8
- −1.4112. Nbxd4 Bb4+ 13. Ke2 Nxd3 14. Qxd3 e5 15. Qc4 O-O 16. Qxb4 a5
- −2.3912. Bc2 axb5 13. Nxe5 Qd5 14. Nf3 Bb4+ 15. Kf1 Bc5 16. Bf4 Rxa2
Other move orders
- 1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. Nc3 e6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Bd3 a6 9. e4 c5 10. e5 cxd4 11. Nxb5 Nxe5 12. Nxe5 axb5 13. O-O
Frequently asked questions
What is the best move in the Semi-Slav Defense: Meran Variation, Sozin Variation?
After 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Bd3 a6 9. e4 c5 10. e5 cxd4 11. Nxb5 Nxe5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 12. Nxe5 for White, continuing axb5 13. Bxb5+ Bd7 14. Nxd7 Qa5+ 15. Bd2 Qxb5 16. Nxf8 Rxf8. White is slightly better (+0.76). The next best moves are 12. Nbxd4 (−1.41) and 12. Bc2 (−2.39).
Is the Semi-Slav Defense: Meran Variation, Sozin Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.76: white is slightly better. Evaluations this early in the game are small, so practical results depend far more on knowing the plans and typical structures than on the engine's number.
What is the ECO code of the Semi-Slav Defense: Meran Variation, Sozin Variation?
D49. ECO codes classify chess openings from A00 to E99; D is the volume for closed and semi-closed games.
Opening names from the Lichess opening book (CC0). Pieces by Colin M.L. Burnett (GPLv2+).